May is the month I was born, and I’ve been conjuring up ways to sprinkle in small celebrations throughout it. Visions of coastal itineraries, charcuterie and wine with friends, park hangouts and nights of live music have been dancing in my head. And inevitably, there will be walks, a combination of aimless neighborhood strolls and hikes at old favorites and open space preserves I have yet to visit.
We’re fortunate to have countless cool backdrops for area walks and a bunch of docents and volunteers who lead tours of these spots. These guided walks go over everything from ecology and art to history and food, allowing us to learn more about – and grow a deeper connection with – the region we call home.
Julia Brown
Six Fifty Editor
editor@thesixfifty.com
Walk and talk: 10 guided tours around the Peninsula
We’ve rounded up 10 spots on the Peninsula where you can take guided walks or tours, covering topics from cuisine and arts to history, agriculture and nature.
EPACENTER kicks off new evening concert series
Some big names in music are coming to EPACENTER’s inaugural sunset concert series, which will run May 9-July 25. The series is part of the center’s expanded outreach to the local community.
How a Palo Alto man’s pandemic project unexpectedly bloomed into a thriving honey business
While millions of people experimented with sourdough starters during the pandemic, Palo Alto resident Dave Rickling accidentally took up beekeeping. Now, he has around 200 hives and his own business: Dave’s Backyard Bees.
Congrats to David Hayashida, who was the first reader to correctly identify where last week’s photo was taken (it’s the Red Barn as seen from the Western Meadowlark Trail at La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve!).
The first person to reply to this email with the correct place where the below photo was taken will win a gift card from The Six Fifty and a shoutout in our next newsletter!
Looking for more fun things to do? Check out our guide to free clothing and book swaps, plant exchanges and more!
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration: May 2 Central Park in downtown San Mateo will offer live demos in hula, Japanese calligraphy and more, plus food from OLHSO Korean BBQ and Jolly’s Tea Ice Cream, koi fish feeding and resource booths.
May Day Music & Art Festival: May 2-3 Two days of live music, food and drink vendors, art installations and more come to Pie Ranch for this celebration of spring. There is even the option to camp on-site Saturday evening.
Release the Rage: May 3 San Mateo County Pride Center hosts “Release the Rage: A Queer Community Exhale” at Ryder Park, featuring inflatable clown punching bags, stress-ball making, dancing and a community art project.
NUMU First Free Sundays: May 3 New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) offers free admission on the first Sunday of the month, including guided tours.
Old Woodside Store Day: May 3 Travel back in time to get a sense of Peninsula life in the 1800s. Woodside Store’s annual free family day focuses on local history, with hands-on activities, games and live music.
Stanford Powwow: May 8-10 The 55th annual student-run Stanford Powwow returns, featuring a fun run, dancing and drumming, vendor booths and more celebrating Native American cultures.
Jane Austen Readers’ Theatre: May 8 Hear local actors read the works of Jane Austen aloud during free monthly performances at The Yard Coffee.
Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival: May 9 California winemakers will present their wines all along Half Moon Bay’s Main Street while a variety of jazz musicians and groups perform, including Jesús Diaz Y Su QBA, the Marcus Shelby Nonet, the Stella Heath Sextet and Rabiah Kabir.
Woodside-Atherton Garden Club Plant Sale: May 9 Find California native plants, drought-tolerant species, vegetables, herbs, perennials, succulents and specialty plants propagated from members’ gardens for sale.
Plan Ahead:
The Corner Laughers: May 15 Bay Area indie-pop band The Corner Laughers (featuring The Six Fifty’s assistant editor) plays an intimate acoustic duo show at Little Green in celebration of the group’s new album.
Herbal Tea Party: May 15 Gamble Garden hosts an afternoon tea party, including some teas made with herbs grown on-site. Attendees will learn about growing herbs and preparing teas while sipping custom blends and munching baked goods.
San Carlos Hometown Days: May 15-17 San Carlos’ annual Hometown Days weekend includes a parade, live music, a fun run, a pet competition, a pancake breakfast, games and much more.
Nudie Records Grand Opening: May 16 The Half Moon Bay family-run record label celebrates the grand opening of its new location with a party with snacks and drinks – and the chance to buy music and Nudie merch.
Portola Valley Horse Fair: May 16 It’s the Year of the Horse and the Portola Valley Trails and Paths Committee is hosting a day of free, family-friendly activities celebrating horses, including pony rides, a petting zoo, crafts and more.
Pints of Science Festival: May 18-20 This festival brings scientists to local bars and cafes to discuss their latest research and findings. Topics include the immune system, smart technologies and “the science of feeling safe.”
Larkin Poe: May 22 Roots-rock sister duo Larkin Poe is at The Guild as part of BottleRock’s “After Dark” programming.
Jasper Ridge Farm Animals at The Reading Bug: May 23 Meet live animals from Jasper Ridge Farm at a special animal-themed story time at The Reading Bug.
Story is the Thing: May 28 Four Northern California fiction authors – Ellen Barker, Andrew Lam, Portia Elan and Victoria Tatum – read from and discuss their work at this Kepler’s event, which also includes a reception with the authors.
Hitchcock at the Stanford Theatre: Through May 31 The ever-popular films by the “Master of Suspense” return to Palo Alto’s Stanford Theatre, which also offers what must be the best movie ticket and concession prices around.
Jam sessions, camper vans and ‘70s vibes: This San Mateo County ranch hosted hundreds of festivalgoers for a weekend of music, art and camping
Known for its pie-stocked farm stand and monthly barn dances, Pie Ranch transformed a slice of its property into concert grounds to host the May Day Music and Art Festival for the first time
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